Slate repair on the roof do it yourself - photo, video
The roof of the wave and flat slate is a popular solution for small houses, outbuildings and garden housing. Due to its low cost and ease of installation, roofing material made of asbestos cement does not lose its relevance and is in demand in low-cost construction. Despite the advantages of a slate roof, it has poor resistance to mechanical damage, and therefore it often needs repair. This article will tell you how to repair a roof covering with your own hands, repair a crack or replace a whole sheet.
Causes of breakdowns
Skilled roof experienced builders believe durable, since the life of the coating of asbestos cement is 15-20 years. It perfectly resists moisture penetration, is not subject to corrosion, rotting and is a dielectric. However, even on the roof of a slate over time, there are signs of intensive use: cracks, chips, minor deformations, holes. Repair of asbestos cement roofing is inevitable for the following reasons:
- Mechanical damage. The blows of stones, twigs, hail leave cracks or holes on the surface of the slope, since slate sheets break easily.
- Wrong installation. Repair slate roof is often required due to the fact that it is too rigidly fixed to the crate. The reason for the failure of the slate is the incorrect choice of fasteners or violation of the rules for the manufacture of holes.
- Weather. Slate roofing without loss of performance transfer 25-30 freezing and thawing, then the resistance of the material decreases with time. As a result of wetting, asbestos cement becomes malleable and easily deformed.
- Biological aggressors. On the rough surface of the slate roof accumulate particles of earth, organically remnants, fallen leaves. This substrate is a favorable environment for the spread of moss, which grows into the roof covering. The presence of moss on the slopes - a reason to start a repair with your own hands or with the help of employees.
Important! Slate - fragile material, transported, which should be stored with care. When buying, pay attention to the integrity of the sheets. If there are small cracks on the surface, the material cannot be used, as it will crack from the first blow of the hammer.
Plus asbestos cement is that you can do the repair and even replace a few damaged sheets with your own hands, without spending money on professional roofers. Most problems are solved by compliance with the installation technology and preventive measures to protect the roof.
Cracking
More often damage to the roof of the slate appear as cracks of small and medium size. Homeowners carry out minor repairs with their own hands, repairing gaps in the roof with the help of various putties that prevent the ingress of moisture. Cracks can be cracked in the following ways:
- With the help of drying oil and chalk. The composition of their own hands are made from a mixture of linseed oil and chalk. Damage to the roof filled with cooked mastic, wait until it dries, and then covered with oil paint. The disadvantage of this method is that the linseed oil, when heated, loses its plasticity.
- Using bitumen resin. Bituminous pitch is heated to a temperature of 150 degrees and fill the gaps in slate sheets. After drying, a film is formed on the surface of the roof, protecting the gap from moisture. Working with your own hands, you should remember about the toxicity of bituminous vapors and use personal protective equipment.
- Using a bituminous sealant. The easiest way to repair the roof is to isolate the cracks with a bituminous sealant. It is produced in the form of cans or tubes. Tubes are more convenient to use, but they are more expensive.
- With the help of a patch. To fill the gaps using patches of asbestos cement sheets, which are cut to the required size. A sheet with a hole is treated with a sealant and covered with a patch.
Note! Before starting work on the replacement of slate or sealing cracks, carefully examine the condition of the roof. Sometimes it is more rational to perform a complete reconstruction, without wasting money and time for a partial repair, which will not benefit. Rebuilding the house after purchase, it is better to fully open the roof to assess the "viability" of the truss frame.
Replacing sheets
If the roof has a lot of damage and cracks, the use of various sealants, mastics or putties will not stop the destruction of the roofing. She will need a major overhaul, that is, the replacement of parts of slate sheets. To accomplish this task with your own hands, you need to acquire 1-2 assistants, since due to the large weight of asbestos cement, it is very difficult to cope alone. Replacement is performed according to the following scheme:
- Inspect the roof surface and mark sheets of slate that require replacement.
- The fixing of sheets adjacent to the damaged one is loosened to prevent damage or deterioration.
- While one worker lifts the corners of the surrounding slate sheets, the second one pulls the damaged segment out from under them.
- A new sheet of slate is cut to size and, raising the next, laid on the crate. Fasteners are performed with the help of clamps, special nails or screws with a press hat. Screws do not screw up completely, leaving gaps so that the coating does not deform during thermal expansion.
Important! In order not to bring the matter to an expensive reconstruction, they carry out prevention and seasonal maintenance of the slate roof. The surface is cleaned of dirt, moss with a grinder with a grinding nozzle or a metal brush, treated with a primer and apply 1-2 coats of paint. This measure strengthens the asbestos cement barrier, strengthens the structure and prevents the spread of mosses and lichens.
Compliance with the correct installation technology, seasonal inspection, preventive measures extend the life of slate roofs. With careful care, judging by the experience of the builders, they can “survive” twice the service period guaranteed by the manufacturer.
Video instruction